The Air France/KLM Flying Blue loyalty program is well-liked for its month-to-month Promo Rewards in select markets on Air France and KLM flights, unique redemptions on partner airlines, and extra.
Flying Blue has simply launched a brand new promotion for buying miles, which generally is a nice alternative to buy Flying Blue miles you probably have plans to redeem them for larger worth.
Purchase Flying Blue Miles with a 100% Bonus
From now till August 18, 2022, Flying Blue members can buy miles and get up to a 100% bonus on their buy.
The larger your buy, the larger the bonus you’ll get. The breakdown of the present bonus promotion is as follows:
- 50% bonus once you purchase 4,000–10,000 miles
- 70% bonus once you purchase 12,000–22,000 miles
- 100% bonus once you purchase 24,000–100,000 miles
Flying Blue has just lately transitioned from promoting miles in euros (EUR) to US {dollars} (USD). The usual charge is 3.05 cents per mile (USD), earlier than any reductions or bonuses.
That’s a really costly charge at which to accumulate factors, and it will virtually by no means make sense to purchase Flying Blue miles and not using a promotion in play.
Nonetheless, throughout a 100% bonus occasion, you’ll get double the miles, that means that you just’re successfully buying factors at half worth for 1.525 cents per mile (USD), which is equal to about 1.98 cents per mile (CAD).
That is greater than our current valuation of 1.6 cents per point (CAD), so it’s finest to have a selected redemption in thoughts that may exceed 1.98 cents per mile (CAD) earlier than shopping for.
That mentioned, you probably have been ready for a sale to buy Flying Blue factors, this promotion can be an ideal alternative to purchase.
What number of Flying Blue miles can you purchase?
Flying Blue members with out elite standing are restricted to buying 100,000 miles per calendar yr, earlier than counting any promotional bonuses.
In the meantime, Flying Blue members with elite standing should purchase a limiteless variety of miles, however can solely obtain a most bonus of 360,000 miles throughout this present promotion (which might be reached in the event that they had been to purchase 300,000 miles).
If you happen to had been to max out this present promotion as a non-elite member, it’ll value US$3,050 for 200,000 Flying Blue miles.
Which bank card do you have to use to purchase Flying Blue miles?
Flying Blue sells its factors via an exterior vendor, Factors.com. Purchases made via Factors.com don’t depend as a journey buy as you aren’t shopping for straight via the airways.
As an alternative, I’d recommend any card with a excessive base earn charge or maybe one the place you’re engaged on assembly the minimal spend requirement.
Importantly, since Factors.com is a Canadian-based firm that’s obligated to levy GST/HST on purchases by Canadian residents, it’s finest to pay with a US credit card with a US billing handle to keep away from the added tax quantities, which might dilute the worth of your buy.
Ought to You Purchase Flying Blue Miles with a 100% Bonus?
Shopping for factors could be very helpful once you’re brief on factors for reserving a flight and have to top-up your account on a considerably pressing foundation.
Moreover, for premium cabin award tickets the place money charges are costly, shopping for factors after which redeeming for an award ticket can provide a major low cost.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards
Flying Blue’s rotating Promo Rewards routinely provide up some pretty attention-grabbing offers.
For instance, earlier in 2022, Montreal–Paris and Montreal–Amsterdam had been bookable at a 25% low cost to the standard worth in each economic system class and enterprise class.
This meant that you would e-book transatlantic enterprise class flights to Paris or Amsterdam for under 39,750 or 45,375 miles in enterprise class one-way, respectively.
Let’s say you had been excited about a Montreal–Paris round-trip redemption in enterprise class for 2 passengers. That might value 79,500 miles per individual beneath this Promo Rewards deal, for a complete of 159,000 miles.
By leveraging the present 100% bonus, you would purchase 159,000 miles for US$2,425, or about $3,140 (CAD). That works out to $1,570 (CAD) per individual.
Even after factoring in Flying Blue’s surcharges, the overall out-of-pocket expense is a really good low cost in comparison with one of the best deal you would get when paying a money fare.
Preserve a watch out for future Promo Rewards, which rotate on a month-to-month foundation, as there’s at all times some worth to be captured if the offers align along with your upcoming journeys.
Reserving an Aspirational Flight
Even absent Promo Rewards, Flying Blue can provide some handy routing choices at cheap worth factors when travelling in enterprise class.
For instance, KLM operates the one direct transatlantic flight out of Edmonton, and it’s priced at 60,500 Flying Blue miles for the one-way journey to Amsterdam, or 121,000 miles for a round-trip.
If you happen to’re eyeing the quickest path to Europe as an Edmontonian, shopping for 121,000 Flying Blue miles for US$1,845, or $2,390 (CAD), brings the enterprise class flight a lot nearer inside attain in comparison with paying money.
The identical precept applies to Air France and KLM’s different North American routes, together with Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec Metropolis, all of that are priced within the area of 55,000–60,000 Flying Blue miles for a one-way flight in enterprise class.
Different Methods to Earn Flying Blue Miles
Earlier than deciding to accumulate Flying Blue miles with a 100% bonus, take into account that there are various slower however cheaper methods to get Flying Blue miles, which can be price contemplating should you aren’t in a rush to e-book.
Canadian Credit score Playing cards
There are many methods to earn Flying Blue via the bank cards we’ve got in Canada.
American Express Membership Rewards could be transferred to Flying Blue at a 1:0.75 ratio. Any of the Membership Rewards playing cards can be a sensible choice, with the excessive annual charges representing a possibility to successfully “purchase” miles.
American Specific MR Playing cards for Flying Blue Redemptions
| Credit score Card | Finest Provide | Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
120,000 MR factors $499 annual charge |
120,000 MR factors | $2,416 |
Apply Now |
115,000 MR factors $699 annual charge |
115,000 MR factors | $2,119 |
Apply Now |
75,000 MR factors $199 annual charge |
75,000 MR factors | $1,561 |
Apply Now |
75,000 MR factors $250 annual charge |
75,000 MR factors | $1,522 |
Apply Now |
As much as 77,000 MR factors $99 annual charge |
As much as 77,000 MR factors | $1,419 |
Apply Now |
What’s extra, Brim Financial will soon be introducing a co-branded credit card for the Air France/KLM Flying Blue loyalty program, giving Canadians one other new choices to earn miles with Flying Blue.
US Credit score Playing cards
Along with the playing cards issued by Amex Canada, the main US credit cards provide a mess of the way to rack up Flying Blue miles.
Amex US Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Citi ThankYou factors, and Capital One factors can all be transferred to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. With ample welcome bonuses throughout the board, you may earn factors with every of the 4 main issuers and pool them right into a single Flying Blue account.
Moreover, Financial institution of America points the Air France/KLM World Elite Mastercard within the US. The cardboard presently provides 50,000 Flying Blue miles in alternate for a US$89 annual charge.
With Financial institution of America, you’ll want to go to a department to use should you’re utilizing an Particular person Taxpayer Identification Quantity (ITIN).
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy points could be transferred to Flying Blue at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000 mile bonus when transferred in chunks of 60,000 Bonvoy factors.
At our present valuation of 0.9 cents per point (CAD), 60,000 Bonvoy factors are price $540. When transferred to Flying Blue, that is equal to purchasing 25,000 miles at 2.13 cents per mile (CAD).
That’s costlier than the present promotional value to purchase miles outright at 1.78 cents per level (CAD). Thus, shopping for miles straight from Flying Blue can be the higher deal, except you have got a large Bonvoy stability that you just’d like to dump and comparatively few significant lodge redemption objectives.
Earlier Promotions
As you weigh whether or not this promotion is an effective alternative so that you can meet your journey objectives, right here’s a snapshot of Air France/KLM Flying Blue’s earlier provides on mileage gross sales, masking all promotions in the course of the previous yr:
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As much as 100% extra bought miles |
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As much as 120% extra bought miles |
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As much as 100% extra bought miles |
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As much as 100% extra bought miles |
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As much as 100% extra bought miles |
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As much as 100% extra bought miles |
Conclusion
Shopping for Flying Blue miles throughout one of many program’s bonus occasions could be a sexy technique should you’re eyeing a transatlantic reward flight with Air France, KLM, or considered one of their SkyTeam companions.
This present bonus of 100% is consistent with this system’s commonplace promotional bonuses, though we’ve got seen it go as excessive as 120% earlier than. If you happen to’re within the 100% bonus, remember to take motion earlier than the deal ends on August 18, 2022.
Nonetheless, should you don’t have a selected use of Flying Blue miles in thoughts, then it’d be higher to progressively accumulate transferable factors like Amex Membership Rewards as an alternative or await a future Brim Financial co-branded credit card and convert them to Flying Blue miles when it’s time to e-book.
